Electoral Violence Prevention Expert

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System. It serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a continuous spectrum of in-depth local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) is widely recognized as the most authoritative, normative framework guiding efforts to reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of business operations on human rights. Experts have described it as the single most important innovation in promoting sustainable business practices in the last 25 years – a role that is reinforced by its inclusion as one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).

Ethiopia has embarked on a new democratic era, marked by the re-establishment of the National Elections Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) in 2019 as the country’s independent electoral management body, followed by the Sixth General Elections in 2021. Despite a commitment to the electoral process, a significant challenge for a nascent institution like NEBE is to cultivate sustainable connections between effective, participatory democratic governance, respect for human rights, and the establishment of strong, independent, and responsive institutions, including an accountable electoral management body

The UNDP project “Supporting Elections for Ethiopia’s Democracy Strengthening (SEEDS-1)” (2019-2022) has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for a free and competitive political landscape in Ethiopia. However, further investment is crucial to sustain these gains in the long term. The successor project (SEEDS) 2 therefore continues to support NEBE and other stakeholders throughout the electoral cycle.

SEEDS 2 operates within the framework of the re-established National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) as mandated by Proclamation No. 1133/2011. NEBE is responsible for conducting elections, organizing referendums, and regulating political parties in Ethiopia. As NEBE prepares for the upcoming 7th general elections, it aims to strengthen its institutional capacity, particularly focusing on sustainable human resources development, to strengthen electoral cycle, uphold its reputation, and conduct transparent, credible, and inclusive elections in Ethiopia.

As part of the UNDP Ethiopia “Strengthening Ethiopia Elections for Democratic Sustainability (SEEDS 2)” project and in collaboration with EC-UNDP Joint Task Force on Electoral Assistance (JTF), UNDP shall assist NEBE with the development of an Elections Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) System. The objective of the system is to provide NEBE with the capacity to efficiently and coherently monitor, manage, and respond to violence throughout the electoral process. At the same time, through this system, NEBE is seeking to monitor efficiently electoral operations throughout the country and timely and rapidly respond to any challenges that may arise.

In this context, UNDP Ethiopia is seeking to hire Electoral Violence Prevention Expert (National) to support the establishment, implementation and functioning of the EWER system for the upcoming elections in Ethiopia.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and in coordination with the advisory team, the incumbent will provide technical assistance to NEBE in setting up, coordinating, and managing the EWER system.

Specific duties include:
• Support the JTF mission during the assessment of the environment for EWER implementation.
• Support NEBE in further developing policies and procedures governing the prevention of electoral violence and EWER system.
• Support NEBE in analysing risks of electoral violence and incorporating risk management measures into operational planning (including the contingency measures related to possible health, natural and other risks that may impact electoral operations).
• Support NEBE in preparations for the implementation and operations of all levels of EWER system with focus on procedures and training.
• Support NEBE in convening the decentralized units/ teams of the EWER system.
• Support NEBE in ensuring regular information-sharing and coordination amongst and between the teams and stakeholders included in the EWER.
• Manage national EWER operations, including meetings, communication, surge fund.
• Track agreed actions arising from the EWER.
• Support the IT technician in setting up (updating / adapting / developing) and manage the IT EWER platform including by: monitoring functioning of the platform; liaising with developers in case of any technical issues; and logging meetings, risks, incidents, responses, etc.
• Maintain regular communication between regional and national structures of the EWER system.
• Provide regular updates and draft reports and other documents according to the Project’s reporting framework as well as ad-hoc requirements.
• Support NEBE to identify and address lessons learned.
• Perform other tasks and duties as requested by the Chief Technical Advisor.

Impact of Results
All of the key results are critical for the project to operate and to be able to implement its activities effectively and efficiently. In the absence of these results the project would neither comply with UNDP rules and regulations nor be able to meet its objectives